Question

read the passage from the novel hatchet.
a cloud of sparks rained down, most of them missing the nest, but some, perhaps thirty or so, hit in the depression and of those six or seven found fuel and grew, smoldered and caused the bark to take on the red glow.
then they went out.
close—he was close. he repositioned the nest, made a new and smaller dent with his thumb, and struck again.
more sparks, a slight glow, then nothing.
it’s me, he thought. i’m doing something wrong. i do not know this—a cave dweller would have had a fire by now, a cro - magnon man would have a fire by now—but i don’t know this. i don’t know how to make a fire.
from gary paulsen, hatchet. copyright 1987 by gary paulsen
which of the following best describes this character’s perspective about creating fire?
he is frustrated that he hasn’t learned the proper technique.
he is relieved that his hard work and effort are paying off.
he is annoyed that he doesn’t have the tools that a cave dweller would have.
he is certain that building a fire is simple and requires little effort.

Explanation:

1. Analyze the first option: The character thinks "I'm doing something wrong. I do not know this... I don't know how to make a fire" and his attempts to make fire (sparks, repositioning nest, striking again) aren't successful, showing frustration at not knowing the proper technique.
2. Analyze the second option: The text says "More sparks, a slight glow, then nothing" and the character is self - critical, so there's no relief about effort paying off.
3. Analyze the third option: The character compares himself to a cave dweller/Cro - Magnon man who "would have had a fire by now" in terms of knowledge, not tools, so this is incorrect.
4. Analyze the fourth option: The character's struggle and self - doubt ("I don't know how to make a fire") show he doesn't think building fire is simple.

Answer:

He is frustrated that he hasn't learned the proper technique.